A Needed Break

 We had a wonderful break for  week. We went home and got to see our girls and take care of some things. It was their mommys week to have them but I called and asked if  we could spend some time with them since we were going to be home that week. It was no problem. I had so many plans for us and fun things lined up to do, like I always do, then their daddy called me and said that Atleigh was signed up for Kinder Camp at the school and she had to be there everyday from 12 to 3 pm. Well, rats. That spoiled all my plans. However, when I saw how excited she was, I didn't feel gruff anymore. She is so excited about starting school, there will be no problem that first day. I also counted it as time I got to spend one on one with Caroline. Of course Caroline didn't mind at all. They have started this in our area as to let the kids get some kind of idea about Kindergarten and get use to it and give the teachers an idea of who all might be coming into their class. This will help that first day transition go a little smoother. I know how some children are on the first day of Kindergaten,  they are clingy and crying. This will not be so with Atleigh. She was hopping out of my truck like a big girl. She had so much fun and had tell us all about it when we picked her up. I used the morning time and evening time to do fun things with them. While she was at school, me and Caroline took a nap and played. Bible strories always go good with breakfast. 

We had movie night with popcorn at bedtime. And church was Sunday morning.

They helped us outside and we took trips on the Ranger. 

Someone missed her Poppie.

I squeezed in some treat baking time one morning and we made some rainbow cookies. 

More outdoor time after school when it was cooler. 

This was her first day,,and mine and Carolines nap. She has always grabbed my hand and kissed it and held it at naptime to fall asleep since she was a baby. 

Then one morning we got supper going that morning. We started with me teaching them to make deviled eggs. 

The last morning, we had one on one time for a few minutes. Atleigh wanted to play a game with Poppie and Caroline wanted me to do school with her. Then they just wanted to play until it was time to get sissy to school. 

The night after they left, Poppie was out side at dark by the Ranger headlights and flood lights putting Atleighs bday gift together. We got her a swingset for our house. 

That Saturday we had her party. How is it that my little buddy is 5 already. From sleeping on my chest for hours and days at a time, singing lullabyes, to helping me cook and bake to now being half my size. Time goes by so fast. Her Daddy and bonus mom did a great job with the party and food. 

Poppie is always gonna  be where the kids are.

Water slide fun. Caroline was headed up the slide when I saw her backing down. Then I asked her if she wanted me to go down with her and she said yes, but as we got to the top again and fixing to go down, she started backing down again. I said, nope, we going down. I grabbed her and she started squirming. No, I did not almost break her neck, I got her upright and in my lap before we hit bottom. I could not let her go. We got to the bottom and she was mad at me and ran to Poppie. She didn't stay  mad long. She loves me too much. It only lasted about 20 minutes. Then she was loving on me again. Needless to say, I was so sore, I could not hardly move that night and was worse the next day. 

I have to come in and say this. Her mommy and bonus dad were there too. You see, Dakota has been in the healing process with a whole lot of thanks to his girl Jordan. He invited her mommy and her feller. This is a great accomplishment for him to get to this point. The bitterness and anger is getting less and less and he is healing. This is an answer to prayer. I know it is still hard on him and kind of weird, but he is getting there and learning. Jordan has been such a blessing to him and our family. She has taught him to have peace and me too actually. God has answered our prayer too of bringing Dakota the happiness he deserves. We are so thankful to her. She keeps the peace between them and she is an asset to this coparenting thing. Her and our exdaughter in law get along good and for that we are greatful. She has a sweet personality and a peaceful soul. 

This horse is 21 years old. We got it for Dakota when he was 3. It has rode him and Dallas and now our granddaughters and others as well. 

When she got home, she got her big present from Daddy and Jordan, bonus mom. 

The next day, we got to do a little trim in the kitchen.  Our handyman will get a few more things done and soon we will be getting our counter tops in and put in place along with the backsplash put up. Next will be upper cabinets installed.

You know you have trained your husband well when he  makes the bed. All joking aside, this goes to show how much your husband knows you are OCD and have to make your bed first thing when your feet hit the floor in the morning. I had to run errands this day and while I was in the bathroom,  he beat me to it. He knows it would have bothered me all day long if it had not been done. Hes just good like that. 

Then it was time for us to head back out. I was still so sore from going down that waterslide that it made the drive for me a little hard. But we made it. We sure was not ready for that alarm clock to go off this morning. 

I have a new video up on our channel. 

Keeper of the Home at 4D Farms

Memorial Weekend

Dear hubby was off Memorial weekend so he wanted to take me somewhere. Well, while driving, we spotted these and the first thing I thought was, "he's gonna feed me to the gators!". Needless to say, he didn't. Instead, he drove straight down to Rutherford Beach ⛱️ and walked the coast line with me to pick up special shells 🐚 and write our name on the beach. Although he did say duct tape would have come in handy due to me asking so many "whats this?" "What's that?" questions in my excitement. Also the occasional "there's a gator!" outbursts while he's trying to drive, keep his eyes on the road and trying to keep us safe.  

We got to a hotel, showered and changed clothes and found a Cajun restaurant.  Then he surprised me with a walk on the boardwalk around Penoine Lake which is connected to St. Charles Lake.  He's so romantic. 
 

The next day we went to  the Veterans Memorial Park in St. Charles. While we were there we got the chance to talk to Dallas since he had his phone for a 4 day weekend. He sent us a pic of him and some of his buddies. They had had tests all week and their brains were fried. They grabbed some energy drinks and pizza to just relax and gather their thoughts back. We told him to tell his friends we said Hello. Disclaimer: one picture is just all in fun between dad and son. We would never downgrade another branch of the military.  

Then we had to get back to the cottage and to work the next day.  We were sent these pics by their mommy. They were so proud that they made a cake and had to show me. I was so proud.  

Then they are with Daddy and bonus mom and they sent me this pic. I am so not ready for my little buddy to go-to Kindergarten.  The time is going too fast. We will save this pic for when she graduates high school.  

This is my next read and some inserts so far. 

I am so thankful for this young woman right here. If you don't know what has happened and you are new here,  a quick fill in. Our son was married to his high school sweetheart but after 6 yrs she decided she didn't want to be married anymore. She never wanted to marry to begin with. Our son begged her to go to marriage counseling but she refused. So, she filed and it took forever for our son to sign the papers. He thought there was still hope. However, he finally did. We went through all stages of shock,  hurt, depression, bitterness,  anger to recovery and acceptance.  After almost 3 yrs of praying and crying for God to heal my sons broken heart and home, he sends this young lady and has captured his heart. She has brought him peace and everything I have prayed for.  She is a peace keeper and has helped them learn how to co parent and get along for the children's sake. She is a God send. She loves our girls and has taken them under her wing like they were hers. They feel safe and secure. We love her too.  To see the smile on my sons face now is priceless. That smile makes this mommas heart happy.  

We do however have some more adjusting to do and changes coming. We have been told that the girls mommy is pregnant with their little brother. This has put a strain between her and her own family. Her mom is beside herself.  She is wanting to leave the father of this child too. Her mother is beside herself. I'm still trying to process all of this.  I do still love her. She is our grand blessings mommy and that will never change.  I pray for her and ask God to help her find peace and settle her spirit which is disturbed.  We are all trying to process it. We believe we know what is going to happen next but I will keep those thoughts to myself for the time being. I willsay, I can forsee the girls being with their daddy and bonus mom full time. 

On a lighter note, 

 Easy, quick and affordable kids snack or lunch. You can make pizza out if anything. Toast, spaghetti or marinara sauce, slice cheese. Pair with a fruit. Viola! You're welcome. Feeding them in the summer after school is out is not hard. ☺️ Feed the children.

These scriptures were also in the book I'm reading. Extra Bible study for me. 

We will be making a trip home for a week and take care of business with our counter top guy and other things.  And also have a bday party for a special little girl. 

That's all for now. God Bless. 

Today We Remember

 

My Newest Adventure

 Well, work called us to LA. 

 Yep, dear hubby still has to work, but this time it's in Louisiana.  I have never been but I am now. 

Our dandy handy man is overseeing things at home along with our son and neighbor. 

The first day I had a chance, I got out to do a little look see on the grounds where we are staying. We are staying at a Plantation. It has been a little slow here since 2020 hit just like everything else. They started back up and have hosted weddings and even a veteran funeral the week before we got here. They said the veteran was a decorated war veteran in the USMC. There were Marines galore here and law enforement along with tons of family and friends. They said it was a good thing we weren't here because there was no parking and you couldn't get out once you got in. There has been two weedings here since we got here. I got out and walked the grounds and just made a few funny photos too. 

This is our cottage with my own personal welcome guests.They were renovating the cottages when Covid hit and had to put a hault on things. They along with others all over the US is having trouble finding people who want to work. They have had several workers come and stay for months of work on the rail road out here. When they all cleared out, they somewhat cleaned, but not like I clean, like deep clean. So......I spent the first week DEEP CLEANING like I clean. I made it like home away from home as much as possible. My dear sweetheart loves it when I do that. He said he's getting use to all this. All these years of traveling by himself and just making do. Now, it's my turn to spoil him. 

Our greeters roam the grounds freely and they are well taken care of. A flock was born before we got here. This one dude is so handsome. He hangs out more at our cottage than any of the others. I think he has a crush on me. He calls out for me alot to come out of the cottage. lol. He comes up on the porch and sometimes peeks in the window. He has here lately brought some of his family. lol.

Yep I have him eating out of my hands, literally. 

We've had a few storms here that I knew was going to head toward home. And we were correct, the next day, a storm hit home and Dakota was called out on some calls from the storm of power outages. 

I keep the same thing going just as I would as if I were home. I meal plan and enjoy my housekeeping in our little cottage. 

Here is just a few family updates: 

We have finally found the piece of  granite that we like to have our counter tops cut out of. That has been our hold up this whole time. Dear hubby has a good eye and he was not satisfies until he found "the one".  It will take two weeks from cut to final installation. Then we can move on to the next stage which will be upper cabinets and back splash. I don't have an updated picture of our rock wall on our island. 

Our girsl, well, future daughter in laws, have passed their board exams except Jordan has her nation wide board exam to pass and she is a nervous wreck. Brylee passed her phylembotomy exam and is certified now. She will use this in her vet tech program next. However, she can always use this as back up in any medical field if she travels with Dallas when he gets permanently stationed somewhere when he goes active. These are things they have been talking over and planning. Dallas does not have much longer. It will be me and Brylee going to his next graduation.  Dad can only choose when he takes off work again and Dallas wants him there for our big 4th of July event we have every year. We are going to turn it into a home coming for Dallas too. He gets his phone on weekends which makes it much more pleasurable even though he still is homesick. He has been gone since February.   He has had a few rough weeks with tests everyday. It has been mentally exhausting but this momma has been praying everyday. He will be fine

 Speaking of praying, our little Atleigh will be starting Kindergarten in August.  Where has the time gone? Seems like yesterday I was driving them home from the hospital.  They have got her all registered. I can't even begin to explain how my heart feels about this.  

Well, I have laundry I need to go check on. I have a new video up on our channel. 

1. Keeper of the Home at 4D Farms